Inner seal for caskets



Oct. 9, 1945. I F. w. HAYES INNER SEAL F03 GASKETS f Filed-Marci: 51, 1943 I I I g \NVEQNTOR Flo a Wflayes BY f 7' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED INNER SEAL FOR GASKETS Floyd W. Hayes, Mountainville, Y., assignor to National Casket.Company Incorporated, Long Island City N. Y; I

Application March 31, 1943, Serial No. 481,357

14 Claims.

This inventionrelates to burial caskets and the'likeyand more particularly to inner *seal's therefor. l v

In hermetically sealinga burial casket, numerous problems and difficulties arise and there have been many attempts to provide a suitable structure for that purpose. 1 However, I believe those are all open to various objections such as not being actually air tight or liquid tight, or too costly to manufacture, or too intricate to install, or requiring a special construction of casket or a separate interliner in the casket; and

so forth. 7 V 1 It is one object of my invention to provide a simple construction of inner seal suitable for mounting on' top of any casket body tofit beneath the lid thereof when closed; 1

Another object of the invention is to provide an inner seal which will form an air tight and a liquid, tight closure for the casket without the use of cements or other adhesives. 1

Anotherobjectof this invention is to provide an inner seal of the above indicated character which is readily mpunted'in place without the need for special tools, materials or labor to efiect a satisfactory sealing. V

A further object of this invention is to provide a unique construction'of inner seal with a glass center panel and having an air tight and liquid tight mounting therefor.

Still further objects of this invention are to provide an inner seal of the above indicated character which is a completely assembled unit, and one that is easily adaptable to conform to the ornamental design appearance of burial caskets. r

, Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from the specificationtaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a, fragmentary view in perspective corner of my improved inner seal, parts being broken away to facilitateillustration.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom-plan view of one corner of my improved inner seal.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44- 0 Y Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views in.perspec-.

tive, of certain elements of, my improved construction.

, The innerseal shown here, briefly described,

comprises a frame of a size. to close the top of the casket and yetfit beneath the lid thereof. The frame is made. ofcooperating inner and outer -moldings and arranged with clamping strips to provide pockets for the reception of continuous strips of rubber or other suitable material. A glass center panel is provided andthe edges thereof are encased by some of the rubber strips,-the. clamping pressure being applied so as to securethe glass panel in the frame and seal the same against air or liquid leaks therearound, the pressure being applied along more than one line. Similarly, the frame carries a continuous strip of rubber around its lower edge which cooperates with a member formed on the casket to seal the-frame therearound, and also by pressure applied along more than one line.

Since the construction is alike at each corner of the casket and frame, only one corner need be shown and described.

Referring to the drawing, the side wall of the body of the burial casket is indicated at .I I, the top I2 of which has an upstanding shoulder l3 formed nearthe inner edgeof the wall, the top extending inwardly therebeyond. The top is folded back upon itself outwardly beyond the shoulder I3 to form a capping strip l4. Apocket is formed thereby, which. receives a reinforcing strip [5. This construction extends around the top of the inner edge ofv the casket wall to constitute the mountingv for thezinner seal, indicated generally at l 6. The construction is. such as to leave an uncovered outerportion.l2 of the side wall, usually in the form of a molding,..over which fits the flangesof .anarched, shaped hollow cover- (not shown) .so that the'inner seal I6 is completely enclosed when the cover is in place; g

Theinner seal in the present embodiment is formed with a frame comprising an outer mold- {ing I] which may have any desired. contour to conform. to the ornamental design appearance of the casket- .The .top I8 of molding I! has a depending flanged!) around the inner edge thereof. At its oute'rand lower edge the molding has a raised bead 2| from which depends a flange 22. Fitting inside the molding i1 is a smaller inner frame molding 23 having an inset forming a pocket 24 therealong,; the inner and outer. moldings .being suitably secured together as by soldering or welding,

ass p nel e upo a rubber Supporting strip 26, which is cut away to receive the glass panel bracket also has a flat outwardly extending portion 3| fitting under a substantial part of the rubber supporting strip 26, and at its outer end this fiat portion 3| has an upturned flange 32 which fits in a groove in the bottom of the rubber supporting strip 26. As seen inFig. 3, the bracket strips 28 are mitered at the corners of the frame so that the edges of the flanges 32 abut and form a continuous member around the frame when these strips are mounted in place.

Above the glass panel 25. is a rubber sealing strip. 33 whichoccupies the pocket bounded by the glass. panel, the inner molding, the top of the outer molding and the flange I9 thereof. This sealing strip also has a groove34 therein which receives the downturned flange [9. It Will be understood that both thesupporting strip 26 and the sealing strip 33 for the glass panel are continuous members extending around the entire inner seal frame so that the edge portion of the glassy panel 25 is surrounded. by these. rubber strips.

The abutting edges of the outer moldings I7. are mitered at the corners, as indicated at 36. in. Fig. 5. At each corner a. pocket 31 is formed by cutting away the inner flanges I9 and a portion of thetops IS on either side of the miter 36 so that the pocket 3-] has a curved rear edge 38. The mitered edges-36 are covered by any ornamental cap 39, Fig. 6, which cap. however is provided with a curved. inner edge 41 corresponding to the curve 38. of the pocket 37, and has a flange 42 depending from the curved edge 4|. This flange is. the same depth as the flange I9 of. the molding strips l1, and the side edgesof theflanges 42 and, I9. abut at the sides of, the pocket 31 and are preferably soldered together at the junctions to provide a continuous upper flange. The flange 42- of each of the corner caps 39 also fits in the groove 34of the sealing strip 33; similarly to the flanges IQ of the outer molding 11:, as indicated in Fig. 4, so thatthe sealing strip will have an arcuate form at each ofv the cornersof the inner seal.

. A sealing joint isalso provided where the inner seal restsv upon the casket wall, in the following manner:

Retaining strips 45 (Fig. 4) are suitably secured along the inner molding 23. and depends. therefrom so as to form. av pocket with the outer depending flange 22 of the outer molding IT. This pocket is filled by a continuous. rubber strip 46 which has upper and lower slots 41 and;48. therein giving this strip a somewhat H shape. The retaining strip 4.5 is bent into the pocketso. as to cause sidewise compression. of the strip 46 to retain the same in place when handling the frame assembly. When the inner seal is mounted in place on the casket, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower grooved face of the rubber stripr46 rests. upon the capping strip [4. The inner seal'frame is then secured in place by any-suitable clamping means such as that indicated at 51- and more fully 'described in Patent No. 1,756,185, granted toJ'o'seph assent sleeve 52 having upper fingers 53 which engage over the bead 2! of the outer molding l1, and a lower plate 54 which extends under the protruding part of the capping strip l4 and is carried by a post 55 that is slidable in the sleeve 52. A bolt 56 engages in the post 55 and serves to cause the fingers 53 and plate 54 to clamp the rubber strip 46, between the molding I! and the casket strip I4 as the bolt is tightened. A plurality of these clamps are provided around the casket suflicient to effectively mount the inner seal frame in place so as to make the casket air and water tight along this joint.

7 In assemblingthe above described inner seal frame, after the inner and outer moldings are soldered together and the retaining strips 45 are soldered in place, the rubber sealing strip 33 is threaded upon the depending flanges l9 and 42 in the position shown in Fig. 4. The glass panel 25 is then set in place and the supporting rubber strip 26 is positioned against the glass panel with the collar 2'! between the edges of the panel and the inner molding 23. The clamping bracket 26 is then applied with its flange 32 fitting in the slot in the bottom of the rubber strip 26, after which the screws 29 are tightened so as to hold the bracket and rubber strips 26 and 33 assembled, and to exert considerable clamping pressure upon these strips 26 and 33 and the glass panel therebetween. It will be seen that in addition to. the pressure exerted between the fiat portion 3| of the clamping bracket 28, and the top 18 of the outer molding considerable lines of pressure will be exerted against the glass panel both by the upturned flange 32 of the bracket 28 and the downturned flanges l9 and 42, of the molding [1 and. corner cap 39 respectively, so that several positive continuous seals are provided around the glass panel 25. Similar continuous seals also are provided at the bottom of the frame when the inner seal is mounted in place upon the casket, these seals occurring along the lower ribs of. the rubber strip 46 when the clamps 5| are closed thereon.

The glass panel could be replaced by a panel of some transparent plastic material.

Modifications may be made in the arrangement and. location of parts within the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inner seal for a casket comprising outer moldings joined together to form. a rectangular frame, a continuous inner depending flange on said frame, said flange being shaped in the arc ofa circle at each of the frame cornersa center panel in said frame and. extending inside said flange, a. resilient material surroundin the edge portions of said panel and extending; outwardly asufficient distance to be. engaged by saidflange, and clampingmeansengaging theresilient material and pressing the panel toward said flange so as to cause sealing. pressure to be applied to said material by, said flange.

2; An inner sealfor a casket comprising. outer moldings joined together. to form a rectangular frame, a continuous. innerdepending flange on said frame, said flange being shaped in the arc of a circle ateach of "the frame corners. a center panel in said frame and extending inside said flange, sealingI material surrounding the edge portions of said panel. and extending outwardly a sufficient distance to be engagedliby said fiange and also extending beneath the-panel,

and clamping means having a continuous upstanding flangelengaging the sealing material beneath the panelandcausing sealing pressure up'on'said material and panel by both said flanges. .i 3.An.inner seal for a casket comprising outer moldings joined together toform-a rectangular frame, a continuous inner depending flange on said frame, said flange being shapedin the arc of a,circle at each of the frame corners, a center panel in said frame andextending inside said flange, a continuous strip of resilient material .overlying the panel inside the flange and having agroove in which the flange flts, a second con- 7 tinuousstrip of resilient material under the panel .insidethe flange and having a groove therein,

and clamping means having a continuous upstanding flange fitting in the groove of said second strip and causing sealing pressure upon said materialandpanel by said flanges.

4. An inner seal for a casketcomprising outer moldings joined together to form a rectangular.

frame, a continuous inner depending flange on said frame, said flange being shaped in the arc of a circle at each of the frame corners, a center panel in said frame and extending inside said flange, a continuous strip of resilient material overlying'the panel inside the flange and having a groove in which the flange fits, a second continuous strip of resilient material under the panel inside the flange and havingan upstanding collar fitting around the edges of the panel and also having a groove therein, and clamping means having a portion engaging the second strip and also having a continuous upstanding flange fitting .inthe groove of said second strip and causing flange, a resilient material surrounding the edge portions of said panel and extending outwardly a suflicient distance to be engaged by said flange, clamping means engaging the resilient material and pressing the panel toward said flange so as to cause sealing pressure to be applied to said material by said flange, a pocket formed along the outer edge of said frame, and a continuous strip of resilient material fitting insaid pocket and arranged for effecting a seal when the inner seal is mounted upon a casket.

6. An inner seal for a casket comprising outer moldings joined together toform a rectangular frame, a continuous inner depending flange on said frame, said flange being shaped in the arc of a circle at each of the frame corners, a center panel in said frame and extending inside said flange, a continuous strip of resilient material overlying the panel inside the flange and having a groove in which the flange fits, a second continuous strip of resilient material under the panel inside the flange and having'an upstanding collar fitting around the edges of the panel and also having a groove therein, clamping means having a portion engaging the second strip and also having a continuous upstanding flange fitting in the groove of said second strip and causing sealing pressure upon said strips of material and panel along. the lines of said flanges and also upon the portions inside the molding flange, a pocket formed along the outer edge of said frame, and a continuous strip ,of resilient upon a casket.

material fitting in said pocket and arranged for effecting a seal when the inner seal is mounted 7. A casket having a bottom, side and end walls, an integral upstanding shoulder around the inner edges of said walls, a capping member overlying the shoulder and the tops of said walls but spaced therefrom, an inner seal for closing the top of the casket comprising outer moldings joined together. to form a rectangular frame, a continuous inner depending flange on said frame, said flange being shaped in the arc of a circle at each of the frame corners, a center panel in said frame and extending inside said flange, a resilient material. surrounding the edge portions of said panel and extending outwardly a sulficient distance to. be engaged by said flange, clamping means engaging the sealing material and pressing the panel toward said flange so as to cause sealing pressure to be applied to said material by said flange, a pocket formed along the outer edge of said frame, a continuous strip of resilient material fitting in said pocket, the frame fitting upon the capping member with the last mentioned resilient strip in engagement therewith, and other clamping means engaging above the molding and beneath the capping member and causing sealing pressure therebetween along said last mentioned resilient strip.

8. A casket having a bottom, side and end Walls, an integral upstanding shoulder around the inner edges of said walls, a capping member overlying the shoulder and the tops of said walls but spaced therefrom, an inner seal for closing the top of the casket comprising outer moldings joined together to form a rectangular frame, a

continuous inner depending flange on said frame,

said flange being shaped in the arc of a circle at each of the frame corners, a center panel in said frame and extending inside said flange, a continuous strip of resilient material overlying the panel inside the flange and having a groove in which the flange fits, a second continuous strip of resilient material under the panel inside the flange and having an upstanding collar fitting around the edges of the panel and also having. a groove therein, clamping means having a portion engaging the second strip and also having a continuous upstanding flange fitting in the groove of said second strip and causing sealing pressure upon said strips of material and panel along the lines of said flanges and also upon the portions inside the molding flange, a pocket formed along the outer edge of said frame, a continuous strip of resilient material fitting in said pocket, the frame fitting upon the capping mem- ,therebetween along said last mentioned resilient strip.

9. An inner seal for a casket comprising outer moldings joined together to form a rectangular frame, said moldings having inner depending flanges which are spaced apart at the frame corners, members carried by the moldings and having an arcuate depending flange in each corner of the frame, which latter flange abuts the molding flanges on either side thereof, a center panel in said frame and extending inside said flanges, a resilient material surrounding the edge portions of said panel and extending outwardly a suflicient distance to be engaged by said flanges, and clamping means engaging the resilient material and pressing the panel toward said flanges so as to cause sealing pressure to be applied to said material by said flanges.

An inner seal for a casket comprising outer moldings joined together to form a rectangular frame, said moldings having inner depending flanges which are spaced apart at the frame corners, members carried by the moldings and having an arcuate depending flange in each corner of the frame, which latter flange abuts the molding flanges on either side thereof, inner moldings secured to said outer moldings and spaced from said flanges, clamping means secured to said moldings and having an upstanding flange around said frame, a center panel for said frame which extends between said depending and upstanding flanges, and resilient material between saidpanel and said flanges.

11. An inner seal fo a casket comprising outer moldings joined together to form a rectangular frame, said moldings having inner depending flanges which are spaced apart at the frame corners, members carried by'the moldings and having an arcuate depending flange in each corner of the frame, which latte flange abuts the molding flanges on either side thereof, said moldings also having an outer depending flange forming part of a pocket around the perimeter of the flame, inner moldings secured to said outer moldings and spaced from said inner flanges to form therewith part of a second pocket, clamping means secured to said moldings and forming part of said second pocket and having an upstanding flange around said frame, a center panel for said frame which extends into said second pocket between said depending and upstanding flanges, a strip of resilient material threaded upon the first mentioned depending flanges and upon the arcuate flanges, said material partially filling said second pocket, and another strip of resilient material engaged by said clamping means and completing the filling of said second pocket, the panel being held between the strips of resilient material.

12. A casket having bottom, side and end walls, an integral upstanding shoulder aroundthe inner edges of said walls, a capping member overlying the shoulder and the tops of said. walls but spaced therefrom, an inner seal for closing the top of the casket comprising outer moldings joined together to form a rectangular frame, said moldings having inner depending flanges which are spaced apart at 'the frame corners, members carried by the moldings-and having an arcuate depending flange in eachcor'ner of the frame, which latter flange abuts themolding flanges on either side thereof, said moldings also having an outer depending flange forming part of a. pocket around the perimeter of the frame, inner moldings secured tosaid outer moldings and spaced from said inner flanges to form therewith part of a second pocket, clamp ing means secured to said moldings and forming part of said second pocket and having an upstanding flange around said frame, a center panel for said frame which extends into said second pocket between said depending and upstanding flanges, a strip of resilient material threaded upon the first mentioned depending flanges and upon the arcuate flanges, said material partially filling said second pocket, another strip of resilient material engaged by said clamping means and completing the filling of said second pocket, the panel being held between the strips of resilient material, and a third strip of resilient material fitting the first mentioned pocket, the frame fitting upon the capping member with the last mentioned resilient strip in engagement therewith, and other clampingmeans engaging above the moldings and beneath the capping member and causing sealing pressure therebetween along said last mentioned resilient strip.

13. An inner seal for caskets comprising a surrounding frame having inner and outer pockets therein, the outer pocket being open on its lower side and the inner pocket being open on its inner side, a center panel extending into said inner pocket, sealing material occupying said pocket and surrounding and fitting about the edge portions of said panel, one portion of said inner pocket being movable, means engaging the movable portion to cause the same to apply sealing pressure to said material on at least two sides of the panel, and sealing means filling the outer pocket.

14. In combination with a casket having bottom, side and end walls, an inner seal closing the topof the casket and comprising a frame supported upon said walls, a center panel in said frame, resilient means surrounding and fitting about the edges of the panel and extending above and below the same, continuous'members engaging the resilient means above and below the panel and arranged to exert sealing pressure thereon, a strip of resilient material extending beneath the outer edge portion of the frame where the same rests upon the casket walls, and a plurality of .de-

tachable clamps engaging the frame, and casket walls toclamp the same .togetherwiththe resilient strip therebetween.

FLOYD W. HAYES. 

